What's wrong with Lindblom, King, or Brooks -- except all those black kids?... Hancock High 'conversion' another example of Chicago's racism
There has been quite a bit of hyperventilating recently abut the Board of Education's announcement that it is going to "convert" the supposedly successful Hancock High School into an academic magnet high school (like Whitney Young, Payton, etc.). Recently, the Chicago Sun-Times editorialized that Hancock was a successful community school, so why take it away from the community.
The October 9, 2014 editorial in the Chicago Sun-Times criticizes the Board of Education for wanting to turn Hancock High School into a magnet high school, but ignores the fact that much of the demand for a "Southwest Side" magnet high school is based on racism. Left out of the Sun-Times sermon on the value of Hancock as it is is the racism of the demand that the so-called "Southwest Side" get its "own" magnet high school. The racism shows every time it's noted that CPS has three very very successful and excellent magnet high schools -- two of which have space available -- already on the broader South Side. King High School, Lindblom High School, and Brooks High School are already doing those jobs. So why does the "Southwest Side" demand a new high school?
Because a large number of the people from that part of town don't want to send their children to schools where most of the students are African Americans. Even if the schools are great school with all the test scores, college admission data points, and extra-curricular stuff you could want. The racist definition of the so-called "Southwest Side" is a major factor in this discussion, and for some reason the Sun-Times and most of those discussing the demand are leaving that part out.
By: Ed Hershey
Agreement
Have to agree, here.